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A New Lease on Life / Affairs of the Heart
The Lake Palace, Lake Pichola. Udaipur On Tuesday, 27 October, just over a week ago, I collected the keys to my new apartment. Yes indeed, I have taken the leap and – with some financial help from my...
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A Place in the World – A(t) Home in the Universe
MY photos of Asian port cities, installed on the walls of MY bedroom, in MY NEW PLACE. Notwithstanding the stent in my heart, these past two months have been, ironically, the happiest months of my...
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A Season of Anniversaries
[I’ve been receiving loads of flowers this past year for various reasons… This bouquet was specially commissioned by my colleagues at ACM to celebrate my being conferred the title of Chevalier de...
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Fearlessness, Or How To Stay Alive As Long And As Fabulously As I Can
A profusion of life-affirming flowers in batik… [from BATIK KITA – DRESSING IN PORT CITIES] Recently, a former colleague of mine passed away suddenly while in his prime. He was actually one of my...
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…To Begin Again
[CAPTION: The Rail Corridor – the perfect long walk for some major reflecting on life…] I’m back, in more ways than one. My year away from full-time work has come to a close, at least according to my...
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The Joy of Moving in Slow Motion
[CAPTION: London… A paradise garden at an old friend’s home… Writer’s Retreat… ] This past week, I succumbed to a spurt of anxious activity, only to be reminded that I should be taking it easy. The...
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ME = CULTURAL HISTORIAN | The Great Port Cities of Asia: In History
[CAPTION: Cover, THE GREAT PORT CITIES OF ASIA: IN HISTORY. Backdrop – Map of the East Indies (detail). Jodocus Hondius. Amsterdam, 1606. Public domain.] It’s been a busy month and a bit. Short spurts...
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THE HE(ART) ❤️ OF STORY-TELLING
[CAPTION: Part I of THE GREAT PORT CITIES OF ASIA: IN HISTORY evokes sea-faring, Sindbad the Sailor and historic shipwrecks.] In my various lines of work as cultural historian, museum director,...
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MOVED TO GASP – Art, Design, Architecture & Affect
[CAPTION: Monreale Cathedral, Sicily.] For the longest time, I’ve been preoccupied with how buildings and architecture make us FEEL. That’s the reason I’ve spent months and years wandering the streets...
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WONDER-LUST – Resolutions 2026
[CAPTION: Lasem. The oldest tree in the city: a trembesi, or Monkey Pod, tree.] It’s the time of year for resolutions. Last time I made one was in 2020, so I figured I’m due. [This shall also serve as...
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